Sport

Van Gaal Says ‘It’s Over’ As Man United Great Predicts Short Stay For Mourinho

In a rather surprising turn of events on Sunday, Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, who was confident of another season in charge at the club, has said ‘it’s over’ to his job after FA Cup win on Saturday night.

Van Gaal was quoted by Sky Sports News as saying “it’s over” when leaving the team’s hotel on Sunday as the club close in on the appointment of Jose Mourinho as his successor.

ESPN reports that Mourinho has agreed a deal to become United’s next manager, quoting sources close to the deal, and says the Portuguese is expected to be officially confirmed by the club early next week.

Van Gaal led the club to FA Cup glory on Saturday — United’s first trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 — as his side beat Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time, but he is set to leave Old Trafford after failing to qualify for the Champions League this season.

When leaving the team’s London hotel on Sunday, Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper asked Van Gaal if he had anything to say, to which the Dutchman replied: “No, no, it’s over.”

Van Gaal was appointed United boss in 2014 but he has struggled to win over the supporters due to the team’s failure to regularly play attacking football.

Meanwhile, club legend and former defender under ex-United boss, Alex Ferguson, Phil Neville has predicted that Jose Mourinho will last only two or three years at Manchester United but can bring success back to Old Trafford.

“I can’t see him staying too long at Man United, maybe two or three years, that seems to be his shelf life at a football club,” Neville told BBC Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.

“When Jose finishes at a club it tends to be a pattern where he falls out with a few players, he gets disgruntled and the team dips.

“It happened at Chelsea, it certainly happened at Real Madrid where there were rumours he fell out with a few players.

“It’s a pattern with Jose, he comes into a club, he gets success but he doesn’t stay for too long.”

“He’s a proven winner, a proven champion. United fans want a team that will challenge for the league title, not a team that finishes seventh or fifth, and Jose is probably the man for the job,” Neville said.

“Knowing Jose as I do, I think he will have done his homework and he’s meticulous in his planning.

“Don’t be surprised if United in the next month, and particularly before the Euros, sign three or four players and when he gets to pre-season he has his squad already in place.

“He knows who he wants and at the start he will demand United sign those players for United to become championship challengers again.”